Kebbi Reels Out Achievements in Sports, Youth Empowerment
The Kebbi State Government on Tuesday said it has recorded tremendous achievements in youth empowerment and in the area of sports as it strives to to curb juvenile delinquency, moral decadence, youth restiveness, and drug abuse.
The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nuradden Bala Fingila, made this known during the ongoing ministerial press briefing on the achievements of our Governor Nasir Idris administration in the last three years.
The ministerial press briefing was organised by the State Ministry of Information and Culture headed by the Commissioner, Yakubu Ahmed BK.
He said the ministry had designed programmes and activities to curb juvenile delinquency, moral decadence, youth restiveness, and drug abuse, as well as provided the enabling environment to encourage and motivate the youth to discover and develop their talents.
Fingila said Kebbi State has recorded notable progress in sports development, particularly in football, under Governor Idris, providing support for Kebbi United FC to compete with top northern teams in the Nigerian National League.
The commissioner described the club’s run in the 2026 President Federation Cup as historic.
“For the first time since the creation of Sokoto State, a Kebbi State team reached the semifinals of the President Federation Cup,” Fingila stated.
“Out of 74 clubs nationwide, Kebbi United was among the last four teams alongside El-Kanemi Warriors of Borno State, Kano Pillars of Kano State, and Akwa United of Akwa Ibom State.”
On player development, he said Kebbi United FC currently has over 15 indigenous players earning a minimum of N150,000 monthly.
“The club serves as a source of employment and a platform for youth talent development,” he added.
Fingila said the state also sponsors 11 clubs in the Nigeria Nationwide League, including Gwandu United FC and Jega United in Division II, and several others in Division III and play-offs.
He added that the state had hosted 20 teams for NLO Division matches and, in collaboration with the African Youth Sports Federation, sponsored the Chief of Army Staff U-20 Football Tournament.
Other milestones, he said, include winning the Northern Nigerian ACF Cup Competition, while Kebbi Veterans footballers have emerged champions of the Sardauna Veterans Competition held in Maiduguri.
“Talent hunt programmes such as the Dodo Mayana Soccer Tournament and Future Super Eagles Talent Hunt have enabled players to progress to the Nigerian Professional Football League,” Fingila said.
The commissioner also listed progress in other sports, including volleyball, where state players were selected for the national team, while AC Strikers were sponsored to participate in the National Volleyball League.
“Kebbi was the best team at the National Sports Festival Zonal Elimination,” he said, just indigenes of the state have been nominated as national volleyball referees.
The Commissioner said in basketball, the state female team qualified for the Zenith Women Basketball League and three players made the national team, while at the National Youth Games in Ilorin, Equity Angels took the 3rd position on the log.
He added that at the National Para Games Abuja 2026, Ibrahim Tukur, a player of the Kebbi State Badminton Team, won a bronze medal, just as state came first in beach soccer, and among the top 100 clubs globally.
“Kebbi State hosts Nigeria’s only high-performance Taekwondo training centre. The team won gold at the National Youth Games in Ilorin and earned medals at the 2nd Alfagha Cup in Niamey, Niger Republic.
In cricket, Kebbi sponsored a team to the National Youth Games and won bronze. The state also hosted the U-15 six-team zonal elimination ahead of the National Youth Games Asaba 2025, he said.
“Kebbi Fives are among the top teams in Nigeria and have won numerous laurels,” he said, adding that the state also recorded successes in Scrabble, Chess, Traditional Sports, Para Sports, and Deaf Athletics.
On infrastructure, the commissioner announced the successful completion and handover of the FIFA Goal Project to the state government.
Other projects include renovation at the NYSC Orientation Camp located in Dakin Gari/Basaura, distribution of sports equipment to all sports associations in 225 wards across 21 local government areas in 2024.
He also said the government is building four skills acquisition centres in Gwandu, Argungu, Yauri, and Zuru Emirates.
On youth development, Fingila said the ministry had undertaken sensitization programmes on skills acquisition, the dangers of drug abuse, political thuggery, and conflict resolution.
He added that skills training was held for young people on dyeing, cosmetics, barbing, hairdressing, popcorn making, tailoring, computer training, solar installation, and handset repair, as well as irrigation, fish farming, and animal husbandry.
“The ministry collaborates with federal ministries, agencies, and foreign organizations to train youth in trades, agriculture, and the digital economy,” Fingila added.
“Under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has recorded unprecedented achievements,” Fingila said.
“Through strategic investments in infrastructure, talent development, and partnership, the ministry continues to create opportunities that empower youth and enhance Kebbi State’s reputation nationally and internationally.”
